New guitar Incoming.

[Yew]

Yeah the swingster. Exactly How filtertronny the pickups are is yet to be seen though. Personally Im expencting them to be along the lines of the GFS copies, with Powerful magnets and underwould coils, rather than half sized coild and double height magnets

[Yew]

even though the epiphone website says overwound coils.

[Yew]

Good News!

I finally have my epiphone swingster (pics tomorrow)

First impressions are of a well made guitar, using good wood, and reasonably solid hardwear. Only slight downer is a blemish on the finish of the headstock. (looks to me like someone tried to pick it up when it was quite wet, and its a bit... uneven?

Also the frets seem a little rough when bending, but im sure after a few hours the strings will smooth the frets off a little. you cna only feel it when playing accoustically for some reason too :/

The pats seem fine, but i prefer ones that are a little harder to turn (to make you feel like you are actually doing something) However thats getting to a stupid level of criticisim.


The pickups seem good, however Im going to need more time (and volume) to work out how they sound, they seem to have a filtertron vibe but maybe with a little less bass, then rolling off the tone a tiny bit gives a nice Paf sound, then in parallel they can do a telecaster/strat sound (like a tele sound, with a hint of strat quack they parallel coils seem to give)

[popsaka]

...It looks gorgeous -yeah, quite a few folks go after and prefer those Gretch type Humbuckers.
-So how does it sound unplugged -is it heavy? What I mean is does the neck continue on down the center or is it truly a hollow body(?) ...and, how much did it set ya back? ---cheers

[Yew]

Unplugged it sounds slightly quieter than an accoustic, however it has reasonaby light strings on it (compared to 12/13's on an accoustic) and a bit brighter too (maple and spruce is a good accoustic tonewood combo right?)

Its not heavy, probably about as much as a 335 (bigsby and bigger body) and its full hollow.

I manged to get it for £425 with a bag (Pm me if you need info, I used a bit of a loophole and Im worried Gibson-Epiphone might try and close it)

[popsaka]

...Uh-huh, Spruce/maple has to be up there with the best of 'em... Glad to hear its full hollow so you can also enjoy discovering its acoustic self. -by rights it should be noticeably lighter than a 335 (and this is a GOOD thing) Congrats again -wish I wuz over there so I could come check it out!! --cheers

[cynical1]

That's an interesting guitar you snagged there, yew. I didn't even know it existed until you pointed it out.

Down the road I'd like to pickup a semi to hollow body guitar. I'd be interested in your take on it after you've had it a while.

HTC1

[sjsrocks]

I vote for the Casino. I have a Dpi Dot and love it. I put P-94's in it for about 2 years & liked the tone. It's got that start like sound but much fuller. I also like it when I put 57 classics in her. I'm thinking on getting another one so I have the choice between humbucker or P94, without having to change the pickups out all the time.(witch I do every other month or so)
I need another guitar anyway to make the count even. From 17 to 18.lol

[newey]

I need another guitar anyway to make the count even. From 17 to 18.

Diagnoses: OCD and GAS both.

[Yew]

Here is a pic from my recent studio session (home studio) with my band

Here is the song we recorded, the Swingster is on the rhythm track, and sounds rather good, please excuse my singing.

soundcloud.com/the-ignition/fishmonger-blues

[cynical1]

Well, you sure dirtied up the guitar on that tune. And you sing better then I do, so no apologies necessary.

And that's a catchy little eclectic assemblage of tunes you've got there. I had to drop back and catch all six tracks. Definitely sounds like your side of the pond.

So, what are the pros and cons for this guitar so far?

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[Yew]

Thanks, Its not really my band, but more a band that where always close to my band, and I was asked to do a song with, but I can play half of their songs anyway I only played a major role in this song about Sad Fishmongers though.

Pro's

- Sounds like a pretty decent accoustic unplugged
- very well set up
- Good equipment, (grover tuners, ABR Pinned Roller Bridge, Bigsby, P/P pots)
- Cheaper (in the UK) than the Equivalent gretsch, and better equipped
- The Humbuckers are really good sounding, Tight bass makes the neck pickup usable (something that even my Gibson '61 reissue SG can struggle with)
- The Parallel mode gives a sound between a single coil, and P90 (in the bridge)
- Both pickups on in series somehow gives a 'Bad to the bone' tone
- The maple back looks Beautiful
- the BEST piece of rosewood i have ever seen for the fretboard

Cons
- Binding has some paint and file marks on it
- Frets where a bit rough to begin with
- Poor fret access, if it Joined at fret 15, this would be great as it would be as easy as a les paul.
- Pickups are still quite humbuckery, I was hoping for something more gretschy, but they do sound good
- Would Look KILLER with a sharp florentine cutaway
- sometimes a string will pop out of the roller saddles.

Im sure Ill think of more, Ill come back if there are more points